Punjab Budget passed by voice vote in Congress MLAs’ absence

Ruchika M Khanna

Chandigarh, March 6

Politics gained precedence over economics as treasury benches tried to defend the Budget proposals, presented by Finance Minister Harpal Cheema yesterday, after the Opposition picked holes in these.

After a debate for over six hours, the Budget was passed in the Vidhan Sabha by a voice vote. Congress MLAs (barring suspended MLA Sandeep Jakhar) were not present in the House.

Mann takes on Oppn

It is the duty of the Opposition to participate in such an important debate. We have given 40,437 jobs and I am sending a list of those who got employment to the LoP. We know how to serve people, but Opposition only knows how to run away from healthy debates. —Bhagwant Mann, CM

On the issue of rising public debt, Congress leaders accused AAP of mismanagement of finances and taking loans to meet their committed expenditure. The ruling party leaders defended themselves saying that even if entire receipts were being used, including the loans raised, it was only for the good of the people.

With just a few days to go before the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections is announced, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assailed BJP leaders for befooling people by promising “acche din” or telling voters that they (leaders) are “chowkidars” and the voters are his “parijan” (family).

“BJP makes people resign, wakes up the Governor at 4 am and new governments are formed. Now they have started copying our leader Arvind Kejriwal by giving “gaurantees” before elections instead of bringing manifestos as people did not believe that things said in their manifestos will be fulfilled,” he said.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Partap Bajwa accused the CM of boycotting Niti Aayog meetings to fulfil the political ambitions of his party leader, by trying to expand his party in other states.

BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma defended the Centre, accused of withholding funds of Rs 8,000 crore, saying that the reasons were not being disclosed by the government as they had either failed to give utilisation certificates or use the funds in the manner prescribed in the schemes.